Characterization of the Nipple-Areolar Complex in Cuban Men
Keywords:
nipple-areola complex; men; CubansAbstract
Introduction: Gynecomastia, gender reassignment, trauma, and breast cancer pose a challenge for plastic surgeons regarding the reconstruction, remodeling, and relocation of the nipple-areola complex on the male chest wall.
Objective: To characterize the nipple-areola complex in the Cuban male population.
Methods: An observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in 200 men, aged 19 to 35 years, who underwent anthropometric measurements supplemented with photographs. The key study variables were height, skin color, pectoral muscle mass, areolar diameter, nipple diameter and length, sternal notch-nipple distance, axillary line-nipple distance, and submammary fold-nipple distance.
Results: The following results were obtained: areolar diameter 2.7 ± 0.5 cm; Nipple diameter and length were 0.5 ± 0.1 cm and 0.3 ± 0.1 cm, respectively; sternal notch-to-nipple distance was 19.7 ± 2.2 cm; midsternal line-to-nipple distance was 10.5 ± 1.1 cm; midclavicular line-to-nipple distance was 19.7 ± 1.1 cm; submammary fold-to-nipple distance was 3.9 ± 0.5 cm; and anterior axillary line-to-nipple distance was 7.7 ± 1.1 cm. Significant differences were observed between normal and developed muscle mass with respect to the sternal notch-to-nipple distance.
Conclusions: The nipple-areola complex was characterized by a small areolar diameter, with a slightly projecting nipple and a small diameter. The measurements studied to determine its location showed little variability among the individuals studied and were very similar to international reports.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Dayana Espinosa Roger, Rafael Ernesto Blanco Portelles, Susel Quesada Peña, Julio César Gálvez Chávez
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